In a world that often seems filled with daunting challenges and hopeless situations, believers look for strategic ways to hold tight to hope and share it with others. Two of our partner ministries took hope to their communities, heading into the darkness with strategies centered on prayer.
In Chicago each summer, with the rise in temperature there is often a correlating rise in crime. This year alone, violent crime in the city is already high and the number is only expected to increase.
Englewood is a neighborhood in Chicago's south side and it is one of the most heavily plagued with violence. Last year when the same seasonal rise in crime hit his neighborhood, Bishop Beecher decided something had to be done. He invited his church, a partner of Cru®, to come together to spark change on one of Englewood's most dangerous corners. Every Friday, starting the weekend of Memorial Day last summer, a group from the church would gather on the corner to pray and connect with passersby. Come Labor Day at the end of that summer, the whole Englewood neighborhood saw a seventeen percent decrease in the crime rate!
Marc, one of the Cru staff in Chicago, was inspired by Bishop Beecher. He reached out to twenty-five of Cru's partner churches in the Roseland neighborhood, asking them to join in prayer for Roseland. The Chicago Peace Campaign began in Roseland in May. Community pastors, police officers, and church members decided to kick off the prayer initiative with a special event. That day was almost like a community fair, offering: a bounce house, a basketball hoop, hot dogs, health screenings, employment resources, and — last but not least — prayer. The Roseland folks continue to meet every Friday night for prayer, worship, and witnessing. Marc and the churches hope to see God answer prayer; making Roseland a safer neighborhood and touching hearts with the gospel.
What do lemonade and back-to-school supplies have in common? As we ramp up our preparations for PowerPacks™, we've heard from our partners of a variety of ways they make plans to distribute these backpacks filled school supplies to kids in need... that's where the lemonade comes in…
Kelly works with SEEK Outreach Ministry, a Cru partner in Milwaukee. Last summer when Kelly received PowerPacks, she planned to use them wisely. She wanted to find an inviting way to encourage conversations with the recipients. So, one Sunday morning during church, she headed to a nearby neighborhood park with the PowerPacks and some cold lemonade. Kelly said she intentionally did this during the church service because she wanted the backpacks to be a connection point to reach people who needed Jesus. She set up a table with the backpacks and beverages, and a sign that read, "Prayer and Lemonade."
Sure enough, Kelly had barely finished setting up her table when people started coming up to her table. Kelly shared the gospel and prayed with many kids, families, and individuals that morning — in fact twenty-one people came to faith in Christ that day! She gave them each a gospel bead bracelet to remind them of what Jesus had done for them. Not only was Kelly thrilled to use the PowerPacks as a tool for connection in her community, she also continued to follow up with those new believers for discipleship. Getting to walk with those new brothers and sisters further into relationship with God is something Kelly truly enjoys.
God at work…
As prayer and PowerPacks are on the move this summer, we are trusting God to continue to impact lives through partners like Bishop Beecher and Kelly. We are grateful for your faithful giving and prayers that make this ministry possible. Please pray with us that God will impact the dark places of inner cities with the light of Jesus this summer!
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Alicia Losier serves as the Communications Specialist for Cru's inner-city ministry.
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